Fanna-fi-Allah, the face of Western Qawwali, An Introduction

 Fanna-Fi-Allah Qawwali Party

Fanna-Fi-Allah Qawwali Party

Fanna-Fi-Allah is a Californian Qawwali party led by Tahir Qawwali. If you were moved by the efforts and inspirations of the awesome Brooklyn Qawwal Party then be ready for yet another surprise from west, this time with more Qawwali.

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Shahen-Shah, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Real World, 1989

Shahen-Shah 1989 Album Cover Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Shahen-Shah 1989 Album Cover

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a man of impressive, even daunting, stature. The emotional intensity and soaring power of his voice transcend all boundaries of language and religion and have popularized this beautiful and inspirational music beyond Muslim peoples to audiences worldwide.

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The Fourth & Largest tenor – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan dragging Qawwali into the 21st century

The Global Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

The Global Nusrat

PHIL SWEENEY from “The Independent” calls Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan the best and largest tenor (the highest male singing voice) and  recommend him over Luciano, Placido and Jose (most Popular Opera Voices of 90’s). Author goes on to describe his collaborations and innovative experiments which Though we know pretty well that “the best tenor” tag will never be enough to sum up the huge NFAK ( In each and every possible translation of this statement). Read this article for a great take on the “New Nusrat with his Experiments & Fusion”

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan annoys purists, but he is also dragging Qawwali into the 21st century.

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How We Won the World Cup – “‘We played Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan all the time”

Wasim Akram talking about Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Wasim Akram talking about Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

In today’s video treat, Wasim Akram remembers how the team won the World Cup & How much obsessed they were with “Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan” . It was 1992, and cricketers like Javed Miandad  were already die-hard NFAK fans. NFAK himself started taking interest in cricket those days as he was becoming a good friend of the Pakistani cricket team. Just before the team left home for World-Cup, NFAK personally recorded many songs specially for the team on request of Javed Miandad. Team played these songs pretty much every time (before match-after match, during practice sessions, during breaks and of course  to celebrate the victory)…

We all know the result of World Cup…. “The team brought the trophy home”

Click Here To Play the video (Move to 6:40)

 

Koi Bole Ram Ram (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for Universal Brotherhood & Tolerance) with english translations

NFAK Performing inside a Gurudwara, A perfect example of religious tolerance ,                                                                          NusratOnline.com

NFAK Performing inside a Gurudwara, The best example of religious tolerance

The date was 31st December 1989, and at Ramgarhia Sabha Gurdwara(A Sikh Temple) Slough UK , a Musilm was singing “Koi bole Ram Ram (A Hindu God) “. For people present, there were no separate religions  “Allah was Ram” & “Ram was the Guru”. By performing this song, NFAK proved that “music has no Religion” & “Religion could never bound NFAK”.  This pious though by NFAK truly justifies the following tribute by a fan (‘Rishi R Jha’) .

Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, when he sings, the GEETA, the KORAN, the BIBLE,the Sri Guru Garanth Sahib Ji , all are turned into music…a harmony with the existence …the godliness of the Universe can be felt.

So what follows is the English subtitled video & “Lyrics & Translations” of song “Koi Bole Ram Ram”, and the complete performance of NFAK in Gurudwara ( I know you must have seen it). Lets believe in Each Others Religions, beliefs & Gods.. ..

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